Martin Neary

This article is about Martin Neary the musician. For Martin Narey the civil servant and charity executive, seeMartin Narey.

Martin Neary LVO
Born	(1940-03-28)28 March 1940
Alma mater	Cambridge University
Occupation(s)	Organist and choral conductor

Martin Gerard James NearyLVO(born 28 March 1940) is anEnglishorganistandchoral conductor.

Neary was born inLondonin 1940 and was a chorister of theChapel RoyalatSt James's Palacefrom age eight, singing at the christening ofCharles IIIin 1948 and the coronation ofElizabeth IIin 1953.He attended theCity of London School.

He went on to read theology and music atCambridge University,where he was organ scholar atGonville and Caius College.He was Organist and Director of Music atWinchester Cathedralfrom 1972 to 1988, and Organist and Master of the Choristers atWestminster Abbeyfrom 1988 to 1998.In 1984 he was Artist-in-Residence at the University of California at Davis.

The years at Winchester were especially innovative. In addition to extending the traditional choral repertoire, Dr Neary commissioned new works fromJonathan Harveyand, in particular,John Tavener.

Overseas tours were made with the Cathedral choir, and in addition to his own organ recitals at the Cathedral he drew distinguished organists from across the world to play there, memorably including Daniel Chorzempa, Daniel Hathaway and Marilyn Keiser from USA, Raymond Daveluy from Montreal, Peter Planyavsky from Vienna and (among others) from the UK, Ralph Downes. With his assistant organistsJames LancelotandTimothy Byram-Wigfieldhe was responsible for planning of the major rebuilding and enlargement of the Cathedral organ byHarrison and Harrisonin 1986–88.

As the organist at Westminster Abbey, he was the musical director of thefuneral service for Princess Diana.In the1998 New Year Honours,he was appointed aLieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order (LVO)"for services in connection with the funeral of the late Diana, Princess of Wales." In accordance with Neary's promotion of the music ofJohn Tavener,the latter's "Song for Athene"was performed by the choir of the Abbey as the coffin was borne out by thepallbearers.

On 22 April 1998,Wesley Carr,the Dean of Westminster Abbey, dismissed Neary from his position atWestminster Abbeyon the grounds of gross misconduct regarding the finances of a company that he and his wife had set up to administer fees from concerts at the Abbey.Neary petitionedQueen Elizabeth II,as Visitor of the Abbey, to resolve the dispute. The Queen appointedCharles Jauncey, Baron Jauncey of Tullichettle,to be her Commissioner. After a 12-day hearing, Lord Jauncey determined that the decision to dismiss the organist and his wife "must score gamma minus on the scale of natural justice",though upheld the previous verdict. The report also stated that Neary's well recognised musical abilities, and the hard work which he and his wife had done on behalf of the Abbey and the choir, were not in question.

His daughter, Alice Neary, cellist, won the 1998 Pierre Fournier Award at theWigmore Hallin London.